American History Tellers
Wondery
The Cold War, Prohibition, the Gold Rush, the Space Race. Every part of your life - the words you speak, the ideas you share - can be traced to our history, but how well do you really know the stories that made America? We'll take you to the events, the times and the people that shaped our nation. And we'll show you how our history affected them, their families and affects you today. Hosted by Lindsay Graham (not the Senator). From Wondery, the network behind American Scandal, Tides of History, American Innovations and more.Listen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 15, 2024 • 16min
History Daily: The Execution of the Last Grand Master of the Knights Templar
Explore the dramatic capture and execution of Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, by King Philip IV. Learn about the dissolution of the Knights Templar order, the siege of Acra, Jacques's campaign for a Holy Land crusade, and his prophetic final moments before facing death by flames.
Mar 13, 2024 • 40min
Encore: Lewis and Clark I Into the Wild | 1
Join Lewis and Clark on their westward journey encountering risks, Native American tribes, and geopolitical tensions. Learn about President Jefferson's ambitions, Captain Lewis's leadership, and the Corps of Discovery facing challenges and making key alliances.
Mar 6, 2024 • 39min
The Underground Railroad | Harriet Tubman’s Goodbye Song | 5
Learn about Harriet Tubman's remarkable journey on the Underground Railroad, her early life in slavery, and her daring rescue missions during the Civil War. Get insights from Angela Crenshaw, Director of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park, and discover the emotional significance of Tubman's goodbye song before embarking on her perilous escapes.
Feb 28, 2024 • 43min
The Underground Railroad | Journey’s End | 4
Explore the daring rescue by Harriet Tubman in 1850, defiance against the Fugitive Slave Act, and violent clashes with slave hunters. Follow Tubman's courageous rescues, journey south, leadership on the Underground Railroad, and tensions over slavery. Learn about John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and the path to freedom through the Emancipation Proclamation.
Feb 21, 2024 • 40min
The Underground Railroad | Crossing the Line | 3
The podcast delves into the largest escape attempt by enslaved people in American history, sparking riots in Washington. It explores daring escape attempts, betrayal, and the harsh consequences faced by those defying slavery, with gripping stories of perilous journeys to freedom and political struggles over the expansion of slavery.
Feb 20, 2024 • 17min
History Daily: The Battle of Lugdunum
The podcast covers Septimius Severus' victory at the Battle of Lugdunum in 197 CE, establishing him as the sole ruler of the Roman Empire. It delves into the power struggle in Rome after Emperor Pertinax's death and the emergence of Severus as the new Emperor. The intense clash between Severus and Claudius Albinus in Gaul is explored, along with Emperor of Japan's strategic use of temple rituals to secure victory against the Mongol invasion.
Feb 14, 2024 • 40min
The Underground Railroad | Vigilance | 2
The podcast explores the rise and impact of the Underground Railroad and the violent aftermath of Nat Turner's rebellion. It delves into the resistance faced by abolitionists and the expanding networks of local anti-slavery societies. The formation of the New York Vigilance Committee and heroic efforts of Rankin and Levi Coffin in assisting fugitive slaves are also discussed. The chapter concludes with stories of daring escapes and the political push for a stronger fugitive slave law.
Feb 7, 2024 • 42min
The Underground Railroad | The Light of Freedom | 1
Explore the start of the Underground Railroad in Philadelphia and the collaboration between Quaker abolitionists and free Black people. Learn about the dangers and growth of the Underground Railroad, witness Levi Coffin's journey and his advocacy against slavery. Discover the merger and rejection of the Manumission Society and American Colonization Society, the failure of the Missouri Compromise, and the possibilities and limitations of the Underground Railroad. Follow Joe Zia Henson's journey to freedom and the perilous escape through the Underground Railroad to Canada.
Jan 31, 2024 • 39min
The Manhattan Project | 'Oppenheimer' with Kai Bird | 4
Kai Bird, Pulitzer prize-winning biographer, joins to examine J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and fall from grace. They discuss his opposition to the Hydrogen Bomb, enemies undermining his influence, and the questioning of his security clearance. The episode explores the extreme measures taken to keep the Manhattan Project secret, the process of adapting the book 'American Prometheus' into the film 'Oppenheimer', and efforts to restore Oppenheimer's reputation after the 1954 security hearing verdict.
Jan 24, 2024 • 41min
The Manhattan Project | Devastating Success | 3
As the tides of World War 2 turned, America aimed to force Japan's surrender using the atomic bomb. The ethical dilemmas, concerns, and debates over the bomb's use are explored. The Trinity test and the transportation of the bomb to Tinian are discussed. President Truman informs Stalin about the bomb, while scientists feel a sense of foreboding. The devastation caused by the bomb in Hiroshima is detailed. The podcast concludes by examining the consequences of the Manhattan Project and calling for global unity.
